Griek

Griek is a Dutch noun used to refer to a person from Greece or someone of Greek origin. The standard plural is Grieken. The term is commonly used as an ethnonym in Dutch. The related adjectives are Griekse and Grieks, used to describe things associated with Greece or Greek people; for example, Griekse cultuur or Grieks taal. The language itself is called Grieks in Dutch.

Etymology: The word Griek derives from Latin Graecus, via Old French Grec and medieval Dutch forms, reflecting classical and medieval contact with the Greek world. The demonym is distinct from the country name Greece (Griekenland) and from the language name Grieks.

Usage and context: In modern Dutch, Griek is a standard term for a person from Greece; Grieken is the plural. The term is neutral and widely used in media, education, and everyday speech. The adjective Griekse is used before nouns to describe Greek things; the adjective Grieks is used to refer to the Greek language or to describe something in a more general sense relating to Greece in certain contexts.

Surname: Griek also appears as a Dutch surname and may occur in other European contexts as a family name.

See also: Grieks; Graecus; Graikoi; Hellas.